The authors behind the famous Māori Made Easy book series say despite the book's title there are many difficulties and pressures that come with learning te reo but if you persist you will feel the rongoā, the healing power of the language.
The TAHI spoke with Stacey and Te Manahau Morrison, known widely as Scotty, who have been together for more than 20 years and have raised a family in te reo, but neither grew up speaking it.
Stacey began learning te reo at 21 and Te Manahau began when he attended University.
"Nā taku haere ki Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato ka tīmata au ki te ako i te reo Māori. Waimarie au i ētahi... hoa manawanui i te whare wānanga, nā rātou nei te kākano o te reo i whakatō ki te whatumanawa, nā rātou anō hoki i tāuwhiuwhi ki te wai kia tupu kia rea te reo i roto i ahau," Te Manahau said.
It was when I went to Waikato University that I began learning te reo Māori. I was fortunate to have some... committed friends there who planted the seed of the language deep in my heart, and they kept watering it so the language could grow within me.
At that time Waikato University had the likes of Tīmoti Kāretu, Wharehuia Milroy, Pou Temara, Te Haumihiata Mason and Hirini Melbourne who were huge inspirations, he said.
"Kua kīia e mātou ko te Jedi Council. Nāwai, nāwai ka whakatupuria mātou e rātou hei Jedi Knight."
We actually called them the Jedi Council. Over time, they raised us to be Jedi Knights
After graduating from University Te Manahau committed to the four Kura Reo that were running across the country at that time, he was especially close with Te Wharehuia who became like a second father to him.
Stacey said they named their firstborn son after James Te Wharehuia Milroy, Hawaiki James, he also led the karakia on their wedding day.
"Nō reira tērā momo. Mēnā ka kōrero tātou mō ngā Jedi, ko ia te Obi-Wan Kenobi," she said.
That was the kind of person he was. If we're talking Jedi, he was Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"He pai te tauira kua whakatakotoria"
Stacey and Te Manahau Morrison. (File photo) Photo: Te Rawhitiroa Bosch / @rawhitiroa
Stacey said the recent speech by Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po was a sign of the new generation of te reo speakers and a role model to look up to.
The speech by Te Arikinui was all in te reo, a clear sign of her wish to speak straight from the heart, she said.
"Me kaha tātou... e mārama pai ana au ki taua āhua ki te noho atu tātou me te whakarongo me te whakaaro, kāore au te tino mārama. Engari he pai ngā whakapākehātanga kua puta mai, he pai hoki te tauira kua whakatakotoria."
We must be strong... I know well that feeling, if we are sitting there thinking I don't really understand what's being said. But the translations that have come out are good, and the example set is also strong.
"Engari kaua e pōhēhē, ehara koe i te Māori, mēnā kāore anō koe kia whai i tō arero Māori."
But don't think you're not Māori if you haven't yet embraced your Māori tongue.
Te Manahau said the speech was an example of creativity and experimenting with the language, even if it bends some of the rules of grammar it's a sign of a living language.
"Pēnei i a tātou e raweke nei te reo Pākehā i ētahi wā. I runga i tō tātou tino matatau ki te reo Pākehā nā te mea tupu ake tātou i te reo Pākehā."
Just like how we sometimes change up the English language. Because we're so fluent in English, since we all grew up with English.
"Me mataku ka tika"
Te Manahau said if you want to live as Māori every single day, you should speak Māori.
"Nō reira kei te huri haere te ao, engari ko te mea e pāpōuri tonu ana te ngākau, kāore tonu te nuinga o te Māori i te aro mai ki te reo. Tokoiti tonu o te reo Māori whānui tonu e mahi nui ana kia ora te reo."
So the world is changing, but what still saddens me, is that most Māori are still not giving their attention to the language. Across the wider Māori language community, it's still just a minority really working to keep the language alive.
It's critical to take opportunities to immerse oneself in the Māori language, Stacey said. Those are the kinds of environments that help us grow, something she said they have both experienced together.
"Engari me tino māia, i mua i tō ruku atu ki te puna o te rūmaki, me mataku ka tika. Mēnā kāore koe i te paku rongo i te mataku kua roa rawa koe e karo ana i tērā mataku, nō reira e pao tōrea, koinā hoki te wairua o tērā kōrero ki a au nei."
But you have to be really brave before diving into full immersion, and it's right to feel afraid. If you don't feel at least a little fear, then you've been avoiding that fear for too long. So, e pao tōrea (seize the opportunity). That's the essence of that saying for me.
But she said her generation had a different experience learning te reo than the next.
"Nō reira ētahi kua mataku, kua pīrangi, kua minaka atu ki tō tātou reo, engari ka tae ana ki ngā akoranga, ka tae ana ki ngā pukapuka ka pao te kanōhi i te... āhua o te ako. He uaua."
So some became fearful, they've wanted to learn, felt longing for our language, but when it comes to the learning, when it comes to hitting the books, they are shocked at how tough it is. It is hard.
So we shouldn't assume, even though Te Manahau's books are called Māori Made Easy, that if it feels hard, we are the problem, it is hard, she said.
"He maha ngā mamae, he maha ngā uauatanga, ngā taumahatanga, kei roto i tēnei mea te ako i te reo engari ko tāku ki te tangata e ngana tonu nei, e ngana tonu nei, taihoa ake ka rongo koe i te rongoā o tō tātou reo, ka mirimirihia tō wairua e tō tātou reo Māori."
There are many wounds, many difficulties, and pressures that come with this journey of learning the language. But what I say to those who keep on trying, and keep on trying, is that soon enough you will feel the healing power of our language, your spirit will be soothed by our Māori language.
"Engari me upoko pakaru te karawhiu. Koinā hoki te wairua o tana kōrero. Tohea te tohe, me upoko pakaru te karawhiu," Te Manahau added.
But you have to go hard at it, give it everything. That's the essence of what she was saying. Persist, and give it everything you've got.
"Mēnā e kōingo ana koe ki tō tātou reo Māori, e kore tēnā e mutu," Stacey said.
If you yearn for our Māori language, that yearning will never leave you.
Don't let that yearning remain just a yearning, give it everything, she said.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
